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Avanti West Coast will strike on NYE

Avanti West Coast will strike on NYE
Emma Lunn
Written By:
Posted:
18/12/2024
Updated:
18/12/2024

Strike action at the train company is back on after an offer aimed at resolving a dispute over rest day working was rejected.

Avanti train managers who are members of the RMT union will strike on New Year’s Eve, 2 January and every Sunday between 12 January and 25 May.

An RMT spokesperson said: “Our members have resoundingly rejected Avanti’s latest offers in two referendums and sustained strike action is now the only way to focus management’s minds on reaching a negotiated settlement with the union.”

Avanti West Coast operates trains between London and Scotland, and on various routes through the West Midlands and the North West of England.

Train managers usually work a 41-hour week, but due to staff shortages, they can be asked to work on their days off. The RMT has argued that the current arrangements are “unacceptable”.

An Avanti West Coast spokesperson said: “We’re disappointed our train managers who are RMT members have voted to decline the very reasonable revised offer made to them to resolve the rest day working dispute and avoid inconveniencing our customers. We remain open to working with the RMT to resolve the dispute.”

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In a statement to passengers, the train operator said it had suspended ticket sales for the affected dates and would share travel advice, refund information and ticket options as soon as these were finalised.

Last week, the RMT called off strikes planned for 22, 23 and 29 December to consider an offer from Avanti. But the union said last night (Tuesday) that 83% of the 400 members involved in the dispute voted against the deal.

In other transport news, the union Unite has confirmed that the scheduled strike action involving North Air fuel tanker drivers based at Edinburgh airport has been called off following the acceptance of a new pay offer.